A Sad Day in Cincy

Hal McCoy, the Dayton Daily News's Cincinnati Reds beat for 37 years (longest active tenure) has been let go, and will retire at the end of the season. McCoy, known by everyone simply as "Hal" is somebody I have had the privilege of getting to know both in and out of the press box. Simply put, baseball reporting and the DDN are about to lose a huge asset.

Sure, he's a hall-of-famer. Sure, he's got a pair of World Series rings to put up on the mantle (though he likes to wear the ring from '75). Sure, he can rest on his laurels of a wonderful career, successful kids, and a wife and dog at home. But what can never be seen or written about is Hal's true character. He's the kind of reporter who believes press boxes should be filled with cigar smoke and chili dogs. He's the kind of guy who doesn't let blindness slow him down. He's the kind of guy who knows everybody's name who works at Great American Ballpark, from the valet to the cook to Dusty Baker and the basement bunch. He's one of those guys you always wish the best for, and just hate to see things like this happen to.

Hal is respected. Everyone loves him; the fans, the readers, the players, the reporters, everybody. When players won't talk to anybody, they'll talk to Hal. I was able to get more personal interviews with players if I tacked "I'm with Hal" onto the end of my own introduction. Heck even then-Reds General Manager Wayne Krivsky chased Hal down in the parking lot the night Jerry Narron was fired. And you know you've made it when Dr. Tim Kremchek - the Reds' surgeon - performs your knee surgery AND the surgery makes the cover of the sports section, as it did when Hal had his meniscus operated on a few years ago.

On a personal note, Hal, it was a pleasure to work with you. I learned how to conduct myself professionally in a clubhouse and a press box from watching you. I learned how to crank humorous and informative stories out in minutes, just from watching you do it. I learned that work is best when it isn't. But honestly, my favorite memories from working with you were the trips to and from the ballpark. You love baseball, and this isn't going to change that. I hope you can enjoy some games from the seats in retirement.

Read Hal's blog here

Its Been One Week

Long gone are the moats, fountains, castles and fields of Nantes. Here and now is a 40-hour work week, constant bombardment of (loud) English, and bills for school. Plus, I’ve been trying to figure out if Jeff Hirsch is dead or alive (no, seriously if you can help me out on this one I’d be grateful).

But America isn’t going to beat me. Consumerism and secular humanism isn’t going to win the war. Summer Project did its job, and I continue to find new mercies and joys in the Lord day by day. One of such joys is trying to cram “what I did for six weeks in Nantes…” into one page with pictures for a ministry update letter for my supporters and followers of this blog. It ain’t easy. It’s like trying to describe the way 1 Peter 1:3-9 is currently racking my brain.

Prayer is awesome. I really want to thank everyone who is praying consistently for God’s will to be done on this Earth. I especially want to thank the prayer team from project. You guys gave me so many cool ways to remember to go to the Lord, and filled my heart with so much truth about the power of prayer. I love you all.

For now, I’m working as a medical records clerk at a cardiology/internal medicine practice to try to afford school in the fall. Each day I get an opportunity to pray over those people whose charts I handle and whose papers I file. I also get a ton of time to think about what the Lord is doing in me, and how I can share it with you, the reader.

On a completely random note, B.B. King’s “Sweet Sixteen” (look up the live version on YouTube) and J.S. Bach’s prelude to Cello Suite 1 (check out Yo-Yo Ma) are changing the way I look at music.

I’m definitely going to be more regular with updates, so stay tuned!